Mileage per gallon?

Question

Advertisers say a car gets 20 mpg as if that is something new and wonderful - yet it seems to me that cars have often had a much higher mpg. Am I remembering wrong?
My old '71 VW van has gotten 20 mpg. So what's the deal - anybody know?

I am loving all your answers. I checked out the mileage on my '91 Ford Escort. It gets 19 mpg and I live in a hilly area! To the one who likes old cars you can work on yourself - oh ya, I agree. Not only that - they all had an individual style. you could tell a Ford from a Chevy a block away - by year.

Answer 1

Check out this link from the 1970 bus(same size motor just went to dual port heads in 71) 22.6 mpg : http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/stoermer/70ownmanpage54.jpg

But there are other things to keep in mind the bus was a simple truck(I know I have a 71 bus currently), it's fairly light at 2755 pounds, didn't have huge electronic system to feed, nor a power sucking a/c, plus it's motor was desinged to get the job done, but not to be over kill. Plus they didn't have to worry about emmissions, they where tuned to run at there best not cleanest.

I'm sure we'd have cars with great mhg if someone was will to build a simple car with out all the crap of modern cars. But it's american we want the biggest, roomiest, most powerful etc(suv craze) and where just now starting to thin that down some, but most people are not willing to give up much in the way of comfort to save gas.

Answer 2

I don't know what all the hype is either! I have a 20 year old Z28 Camaro that will get 20-22 mpg. (If I don't drive it like a Nascar & burn off my tires on purpose! LOL! ) It has a 305HO (V8) & Overdrive Tranny. Nothing fancy & complex like todays cars The weight of my car is 3,500 lbs! I refuse to get a new car cuz you can't work on them yourself! You pretty much gotta be a d@mn rocket scientist to find your way around in the engine bays of new cars!

Pretty much them saying "WOW 20mpg (highway)" it is to make them look "environmentally friendly" & a good sales pitch.. since gas prices are up there a bit!
20 mpg has been the average for many years. Unless you are building up a vehicle strickly for ballzy horsepower or some on the side racing....20mpg is normal for the majority of vehicles!

Yea, I also own an old Full size K5 Blazer with a 350 V8 TBI & weighs 6,500 lbs.
It will average about 18mpg highway & 16mpg in town.....It is a BIG @ss truck. with oversized tires, duals, & no overdrive tranny!
If I would change my axle gearing & put an over drive tranny in my truck I would easily get 20+ mpg! Which we plan on changing all that stuff... just gotta gather up the $ thats all!
GOD BLESS

Answer 3

In fact, modern cars do get a much better MPG than old cars. The electronic control of the fuel injection in conjuction with other systems, the design of the cars and the materials used lead to a much better MPG. A loaded car has less weight than a old naked car... Many factors are leading the way. One thing is certain... you can't compare a 71 VW with the brand new jetta tdi. It makes more than 30MPG and has a tremendous amount of power (170BHP in the european version).

Answer 4

The problem is emissions controls. Contrary to popular belief emissions is the main reason MPGs have not radically changed in the past 30 yrs. MPG is second fiddle to emissions controls, if you don't believe me, look at any car you are interested in buying then look at the same car with California Emissions and you will see that the CA spec car gets worse MPG than the 49 state car. In the effort to clean up emissions we have comprised and lost MPG. You can't have it both ways, yet.

Answer 5

You're completely right.

Though look out next year for the Honda Fit Hybrid. That car will be getting scooter-esk MPG

Answer 6

fill up your gas tank thoroughly. Write down your mileage. Then force your tank very nearly empty*. Fill it up thoroughly back and write down what number gallons it took. also write down your mileage. figure out what number miles you drove because the most suitable time you filled up (i.e., subtract the first mileage from the 2d). Then divide the miles through the type of gallons (to the 10th) it took to fill up the tank. that provides you with with the miles in accordance to gallon. *the conception is, force plenty. do not fill up the tank after faster or later; in case you acquire stuck in site visitors or had exceptionally good site visitors, it is going to throw your computation off. The longer you force between fillups, the in direction of a real ordinary you receives. you could also fill up two times--purely ascertain you divide through the type of gallons of both fillups! do not danger operating out of gas to get an empty tank!

Answer 7

My 1996 GMC extended cab pick up gets over 21 miles per gallon; this is highway miles. It also depends on where I buy gas. I guess it is because some cars still get only 16 miles per gallon or worse. I Love my truck! The newer ones don't do as well, it is in their gearing ratio.

Answer 8

When an advertisement touts 20 mpg as great news, they are hoping you don't know the difference, and many people don't I guess. I saw a restaurant that advertised that their vegetables were fat free????
Vaya con DIOS

Answer 9

Seems like the older cars do get better mileage. I know ours do. So why would we want to buy newer and get fewer miles?

Answer 10

Advertising spin.